Who is Negma?

Yildiz Cokcoskun aka Dj Negma was born and raised in Istanbul, Turkey. From a young age she followed music and in the 80s she became greatly interested in house music. She began listening to the beats and paid great attention to the detail and in time started practising to dj herself. From then she organised her own events at different clubs around Turkey. But this did not satisfy her love for house music and finally her inner drive to play in the clubs, pushed her enough to give it a try herself. She played in Istanbul, Bodrum and Marmaris for various house partys and dj organisations. She earned a great reputation at these partys and in 2001, Negma became a Professional dj, playing at Orange Club.

In 2003 Negma started to play in bigger events, attracting great attention from her great variety of house styles. DJane Negma grew to one of the top female DJs in the Turkey the last 5 years. Her sets contain every style of house and her music style is always happy and colourful just like herself. Positive energy is easily heard in her music. Not only was Negma succeeding in her dj career, but she also graduated from Istanbul University Computer Engineering. Also she will go to sound engineering school. She is a technical talent so she is learning new technologies quickly.

She was first know in the dj world as ‘Jelibon’ but after a visit to Egypt she changed it to Negma. The reason being it has the same meaning as her birth name, Yildiz, which when translated to english means Star.

In more recent times she has had the opportunity to play in many countries including Ibiza, Germany and Cyprus and has also found herself warming up and working along side some of the worlds leading names in the industry such as Marco V, Randy Katana, Johan Gielen, Outwork, Junior Vasquez, Sean Tyas, Alex M.O.R.P.H, Ronald Van Gelderen, Jochan Miller, Sied Van Riel, Yahel, Ernosto & Bastian, Aly & Fila, W&W, Leon Bolier, Mark Norman, Pedro Del Mar, Sander Van Dien (First State) Joyce Mercedes, Niki Belucci, LayDee Jane, Miss Shiva, Nugen

Negma also produces and remixes her own tracks. This has also been very successfull for her, especially with her remix of Katana - Feels Like Magic in 2007.Her style of music changes with the times which keeps audience fresh and coming back for more. Currently her efforts are being put into various productions along with friend and fellow dj, alex_turkey, which will be ready for release in the near future.

Music Styles: Deep House, Funky & Jazzy & Vocal House, Progressive & Electro House & Progressive Trance

(Türkçe Biyografi)

QUICK FACTS

1. DJ Name:  Negma
2. Style of music: Deep house, funky house, tracky tribal, tech-house, progressive trance
3. Location:  Turkey, Istanbul
4. Clubs, party & events:  Nugen & Beyza & Negma - Republic, Club 20CC, Liman, Beyoglu North Shield, Rush, AUF, Dulcinea, Karaborsa, Secret, University Festival-Yeni Melek, Newyorker Nublu-East, 9th International Biennial Festival-Balans Musichall, Speed Festival - Solar Beach, Rockin Freedom - Parkorman, Saklikent-Ankara, Club Olympos - Antalya, Cafe de Paris - Bursa, LayDee Jane - Olimpia Wish, Audotirium -Alanya, Marco V & Negma - Studio Live, Randy Katana & LayDeeJane & Negma - Studio Techniq, Miss Shiva & LayDee Jane & Negma - Mersin Club Armada,
5. Year of birth and your horoscope:  1973, Libra
6. Favorite food:  Deserts, vegetarian food
7. Favorite drink:  Mojito, Sangria
8. Favorite DJ/Producer:  Carl Cox, Katana, Markus Schulz, Armin van Buuren
9. Favorite record:  My favorites change all the time!
10. Favorite praty:  Dance Valley 2004/Amsterdam, Insomnia & Ada Projects/Istanbul

SERIOUS QUESTIONS

>> Can you remember your very first gig? Were you nervous? How did you do?
My first gig was no pressure…opening set on New Years eve 2004!! I was extremely nervous but after the first mix my anxiety just disappeared and I had an amazing time the rest of my set. I ended up getting booked for a couple of parties by people who heard my set that night so it must have been good!

>> There are a lot of DJs out there. What do you think sets you apart from all the others in your genre?
The type of music I play and my mixing technique.

>> What kind of equipment do you use? Do you think the equipment a DJ uses can make or break her career?
I have 2 Technics 1200 mk2, a Pioneer DJM 600 Mixer, Pioneer HDJ1000 Headphones. Headphones are very important. Sometimes the pitch control on the turntable is loose or your monitors suck and you can't hear what you are doing. Sound and equipment is important, because clubbers normally look to the DJ if there is a problem.

>> From your professional experience as a DJ, what is the most important thing you've learned about the business - something you never could have known as a beginner but that you definitely need to know to stay in the business?
Like any other business you have to be a salesman. To get your name out there you have to be aggressive at promoting yourself. Don't burn your bridges and don't get involved in club politics. Also remember to appreciate and spend time with the clubbers, cause without them there would be no us!

When you are not DJing, what else do you like to do?
I like to travel, read and meeting friends.

Why the DJ name Negma?
In the beginning, I really had no idea how to call myself. But the answer was already there...because of my complicated name (Yildiz) which nearly nobody here in Turkish is able to pronounce. One day when I was a Egypt a barmen called me "Negma" and he said " Negma means star" My name is Yildiz also means star....so we decided to keep the name so it's DJ Negma.

Write Like an Egyption (yourdj name in hieroglyphs).

NEGMA

Do you practice every day or are you to the point where you can just put a couple records on and make it all come out nice right away? If you practice, how often a day do you do it?
I don't have to practice every day but you have to practice always!! There are always things that you can try to do better. It's important to keep the continuity.

Do you think men and women spin differently?
I think that every DJ, whether man or woman spins differently. Each has their own unique style of playing that's what separates us.

What is the next step in your career?
To start making music. I want to do my first production on my own